> Pick a winner, Heat or Spurs. How will they do it? And how many games will it take them?

Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: Way back in October, I picked Miami to three-peat, so I’m not switching now – that would be a weasel move. Better to just suck it up and accept being wrong, if it happens. But I don’t think it will. The Spurs are terrific and, yes, I expected them to be more traumatized by last year’s Finals — and as always, more decrepit by now than they’ve proven to be. It would make total sense if the machine they’ve been for much of this season and postseason tore through the Heat with breathtaking efficiency. To me, they’re deeper and they get more out of their many parts, consistently. But Miami has the best part in all of basketball and I think LeBron James is poised for a massive Finals. Something in the 32-36 ppg range, pulling casual fans into this NBA rematch. The rest of Miami’s roster knows how to play around him well enough by now. Dwyane Wade is healthier this year and Chris Bosh is at peace in his floor-spacing, opportunist role. Miami in 6.

Fran Blinebury, NBA.com: Get out the DVD of the 2013 Finals and hit the “stop” button right at 28 seconds left in Game 6. The Spurs at their best will keep the ball moving crisply ahead of the Heat’s contesting, gambling defense. They’ll knock down open 3s, use Parker’s penetration to get the ball to Tim Duncan and count on Manu Ginobili to simply make things happen. Defensively, it will be up to Leonard to keep James out of the paint, force the Heat to shoot a ton of 3s and hope that Chris Bosh’s improved game behind the arc isn’t the answer to that strategy. They’ll rely on improved depth in the lineup. The pick is the same one that was a winner last year, that is until those last 28 seconds: Spurs in 6.

Jeff Caplan, NBA.com: Spurs in 5. Oh, you think I’m crazy? If Tony Parker is healthy, this is my pick. If we come to find that he’s hobbling around out there and maybe even a detriment, well, then that changes everything. Assuming he’s healthy, the Spurs will methodically bludgeon the Heat with precision, depth and Tim Duncan. The only area I see that can kill San Antonio is if it starts getting loose with the basketball like the one game in the first round against Dallas when they had 24 turnovers. That, as everybody knows, is a recipe for disaster against the Heat. And I will say this, if LeBron James pulls this off, it will lift him to even a higher stratosphere in the pecking order of all-time superstardom because I think we can agree that, despite LeBron being the greatest individual talent in the series, top to bottom the Spurs are the superior team.

Scott Howard-Cooper, NBA.com: Spurs in 7. They will do it the same way they always do it: efficient offense, playing smart, hitting shots from everywhere, defending and getting production from the bench. They will do it by remembering last year and the pain of that June. It’s stopping the clock and pushing forward at the same time.

John Schuhmann, NBA.com: Both teams have been rather unstoppable (combined 17-1 and scoring at a ridiculous rate) at home in the playoffs. San Antonio has exactly the kind of offense that can take advantage of the Heat’s defensive scheme, especially if Miami’s effort and energy isn’t there consistently. And it hasn’t been there consistently all season. I was six seconds away from my “Spurs in 6″ prediction coming right last year and I’ve been foreshadowing the Heat’s demise with most of what I’ve written over the last month. Spurs in 6.

Sekou Smith, NBA.com: Everything I’ve learned over the years about The Finals tells me that my pick should be the Spurs in 7. When Tim Duncan lays down a Finals guarantee, or what passes for one in his classy way, it’s hard to pick against the Spurs … (wait for it) … But everything I’ve learned about LeBron James and the Miami Heat over the past few years tells me that there is no way he allows anyone, not even Tim Duncan and the mighty Spurs, to interrupt the title march he’s on at this stage of his career. The Heat, with yeoman’s work from LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, overwhelm the Spurs’ older and slightly wounded Big 3 and find a way to secure their coveted three-peat. And they do it in 6, finishing things off a game earlier than they did last time. Revenge, redemption or whatever you want to call it, is a powerful emotion. Just not powerful enough to defeat an all-time great in his championship prime.

Lang Whitaker, NBA.com’s All Ball blog: Of course, loyal Hang Time Podcast listeners will recall how I picked Miami way back in October. I’ve been riding with the Heat all season, and I really haven’t seen anything in their postseason performances to make me doubt them. HOWEVA, while watching the Spurs systematically dismantle the Thunder, I realized I was thinking with my heart, not my head. These two teams match up so well, and both play such smart basketball, and no fear of one another. I think the Spurs summon the ghosts for one more run. As much as I’d love my months-old prediction to be right, I think San Antonio will win in 7 games.

Marc-Oliver Robbers, NBA Deutschland: The Spurs will do it. They’ll get their revenge! Why? The pain of last year still sits very deep. Tim Duncan dreams of a perfect end of this career. He is still very focused and motivated. In addition, the Spurs have the options to slow LeBron James down. Leonard, Diaw and Duncan can guard him over stretches. And one last point: San Antonio has the deeper roster. They have more options, more tactical weapons. The Spurs will do it in six games.

Stefanos Triantafyllos, NBA Greece: A tough one. LeBron’s 3-peat would be a great story in his way to the GOAT pantheon. The same goes with the ring for the Popovich-Duncan era. Aaaaaah… I really don’t know what to choose. My heart hasn’t decided yet. My mind says Spurs in 7.

Rubens Borges, NBA Brasil: San Antonio Spurs. Gregg Popovich learned a lot from last years Finals, the Big Trio is hungry and ready to dethrone Miami. Expect their defense to collapse on LeBron and their offense to through Timmy in the post. We deserve 7 games, we need 7 games. Can we have 7 games, please?

Akshay Manwani, NBA India: The Spurs in six. They are too deep, will have Boris Diaw playing extended minutes (perhaps even start) at the four-spot and have home-court this season. Think about it, in a Finals that went seven games last year, perhaps it was home-court that made the difference. This season, the Spurs have it all – they are a little better, Miami a little weaker, the Spurs play four at the AT&T Center and have Diaw, Patty Mills and Manu Ginobili all playing better than last year. The Spurs it will be.

128 Comments

The NBA Finals key player is Spur Danny Greene. If he scores 3 pointers that spreads the floor, especially for Tony Parker who is a one-on-one master. If Greene not hot Miami Heat will clog the paint and thus sending Tony Parker to the bench. Magic Johnson said role players play good at home but away all star players carry to load. Can Danny Greene carry the weight?

If the Spurs win it will not shock me becuase they have a great team but, I see the Heat winning in 6. This is mainly to do with what everybody else sees as a strength but I see as San Antonio’s biggest weakness as far as it comes to the Finals, their role players. They rely on them too much and that is why Miami eventually won the series last year. It wasn’t heroics from Allen. It wasn’t LBJ coming alive in game 7. It was that the role players that put San Antonio in the position to win disappeared. Role players are role players and not starters for a reason. They are inconsistant and disappear in big moments. It’s not that they can’t show up for a game or a big moment. They jsut don’t show up on a game to game basis when the stakes are huge. Look no further than Danny Green last year. As soon as the pressure was on he acted like he had never played basketball in his life. Without the role players Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli are no longer enough to carry a team. Even though Wade is older than his years due to his knee, with LBJ and Bosh on the court the Heat have the better big three and that is why they will ultimately win.

Does anyone forget that the heat did not win it all in game 6? They crushed them in game 7 for a reason. Spurs got blown out twice by Scott Brooks 2dimensional offense…and were getting schooled by the Mavs….over rated much?

its funny how u think they should of won last year if it wasnt for that last 28 seconds. except the fact they still had to play a game 7 and still lost. the spurs got outplayed when it mattered most and thats why they lost not because of some supposed fluke of a shot that the greatest 3 point shooter to ever play the game made an incredible shot

Let’s be honest. Both teams are amazing. We have evidence that what has taken place in the regular season can be taken very lightly in the playoffs. The Spurs best player is Greg Popovich. Miami’s best player is Lebron James. Which ever team comes with the most energy will win in 6 games. My pick is Miami. You have to beat Lebron 4 Times. Last year he made the switch mentally to win at all costs. Yes, the ball bounced the right way for them to win the championship last year but now they know to come against the Spurs FOCUSED. When Miami is Focused Its hard to beat them 4 Times.

I think the spurs are just a little bit better than Miami is but at the same time it will be a great match for the spurs and I will say the spurs get It done this time for sure 6 games like it should have been last year.

feel the hunger of the spurs to beat Miami and get the trophy. they’ve been waiting this for 8 months and are getting better with Kawhi and the deep bench players. believe in the Spurs big 3 just like the old times—spurs in 6

I remember last year. There was one game in which Mike Miller came in won a game for the Heat. He’s not there this year.And of course the Spurs must find a way to keep Ray Allen off balance. Don’t let Ray Allen get into a groove. The Spurs bench is better this year than last. And I think that Manu wants to have a monster series. It was his turnover that pretty much sealed it for the Heat in thee last seconds.Boris, Tiago, and Danny have been consistent. The only question mark is Marco Bellillini. He has to have a breakout game. Can’t wait.

Let’s make a deal: Spurs win (in 5) and LeBron gets the Finals MVP Trophy. Seeing that Spurs will score evenly and share the rock while Miami will rely predominantly on LeBron this looks like a fair deal!

Heat will win in 5. 2 blow outs, one being game 1 and the other game 5. Lebron will win 5 peat. Once more with the Heat next yer to make it 4 and then once more when he joins OKC with Durant in 15-16 season.

just watch and don’t predict who’s gonna win this series. the writers of this nba . are all idiots so they picked the spurs because their theams are beaten by the heat . so stop hati’n lebron and the heat . c’mon men . heat in 5 or 6

Only 3 teams have been able to win the Finals on the road…odds are not on the Heat’s side to win on the road in Game 7.
Plus, I don’t see any possible outcome that Heat win Finals this year. They needed Home Court last year (and a little luck) to win.
This year, they don’t have home court…and their luck has run out!

Man so many people really doubting the heat this year. As I always do…. I’ll sit back and watch Miami achieve greatness. Half of these same people were riding the heat last season. I wonder what has really changed. Wade is playing much healthier, Oden was acquired, and Lewis playing great…. Yet still Miami is doubted. Their defense was better last year but this year no team brought them to game 7 yet. So are those teams getting worst?

The Spurs are too good of a team. People keep forgetting that Tim Duncan, as old as he is, is a former league MVP. At 38 he can still go out there and go berserk against any team in any night he wants to. I have never seen Timmy this motivated in his career. All of his past championships are great but I never saw him want this as much as right now.

Lebron is a basketball god and I won’t take it away from him. The Heat have Wade and Bosh who can wreak havoc on the Spurs but the Spurs as we saw them against Dallas and OKC can defeat any team if they wanted to. People should remember that the Spurs defeated an OKC team with two of the best players in the world. They have the league MVP for crying out loud. Yes, Lebron James is a basketball god but Tim Duncan is not human. He is a robot and he’s out there for a quest to win the NBA Championship for a 5th time in his career. This is the Spurs year and they will win it!

why are so many people making bandwagoners a big deal,if they are lebron fan,the would you expect them to be cavs fan until now?that was just for the cleveland natives to stick as cavs fan even when lebron left….

forget the heat fans its all about lebron fans, people from cleveland ohio even cheer more for the heat now as to cavaliers because of Lebron Raymone James! Lat year finals was to close to tell who is the real winners between this 2 great teams! Now is the time for the heat and lebron to prove convincingly on who really is the wiinner! I say Heat in 6 games! booked it! Its like Juan Marquez Knocking Out Manny Pacquiao to show who wins clearly in peoples eye!

As much as we like to see superstars achieve greatness and make their mark in the annals of basketball history, the spurs just flat out play basketball the way its supposed to be played. For that reason, for the effort the spurs take as a team to make it look so effortless, for the superstars to shed their egos for the greater good of the team, and for winning 62 games with their big three averaging under 30 minutes a game, the spurs should win this one. for basketball.

Amen. NBA basketball became a circus with a lot of overrated clowns. Spurs should be an example of how the game of basketball needs to be played. I don’t want to watch clowns acting like they did something unique after every basket they made. Acting like gorrilla after every dunk. Making empty promisess all the time just to make the hype and make a lot of money out of people who know nothing about basketball. People who understand basketball wan’t Spurs. I wan’t Spurs. And i don’t care that NBA.com will not post my comment. You can only say good things about LeBuissness write ???

i was born and raised in Miami, FL; moved when i was 18, needless to say there was no such thing as a true heat fan. people there were either Marlin or Dolphin fans but i never met a Miami heat fan the 18 years i was there.people on here want to say that Spurs fans are just jumping on the bandwagon, yet Heat fans came about once Miami won their first NBA final and then when Lebron was added to the heat’s roster. i have always been a Spurs fan even when i was living in Miami because they are such a great team. not only with their skill on the court but also because of their demeanor.

One won’t see a spur’s player beat on their chest and yell, allowing their giant ego take over (Lebron) they let their skill on the court do the talking for them and they remain humble.

OKC has to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, especially with Ibaka which had a total 200+ blocks this season. Miami would need two players to put up the amount of blocks Surge put up this season. The spurs are going to get into the paint easily due to this fact. anyone who has watched the spurs this season knows that when they are in the paint they are dangerous!

You never live in Miami and you are bias. I’d It not the same spurs that Miami defeated last season and split 1-1 during the regular season.
Please don’t compare OKC and Miami, that is where you fooled yourself.
Do you ever imagine what Miami record would be if Wade did not miss 28 games during the regular season?
Watch and see what is going to happen to the spurs.

Wow! San Antonio 10 out of 11! Fair enough to say Miami shall three peat before the start of the season. But also fair enough to say that San Antonio seems to vanquished the ghosts of last year’s finals and are only reminded of vengeance and redemption. Hope this shall be another epic battle until Game 7. And every game is breathtaking that even just watching feels like you’re more nervous than the ones playing. I’m rooting for Allen, James and the Heat but whichever team wins, it is well-deserved. Here we GO!

You have no proof of that… I’m not even in the US but I’ve been a Heat fan since the pre Lebron era when Miami had one of, if not the worst record in the league because I liked watching D Wade in his prime. It’s so easy to call a group of fans band wagon fans, but the reality is Miami is a strong team, the have a big fan base and haters are just bitter because their team is average at best

When Lebron was in Clevland where was I. I was a Clevland fan, that’s where I was. I was raised in Whyoming, and
Montana, so I never had a sports team that I had any ties to. I follow players, I thnk it makes more sense that way, it’s funny how people follow a team they trade all the players they like, switch coaches, change schemes, get a new owner, and people are like I’ma true fan I stick with em… What? All your doing is rooting for a jersey, I find players I like as athletes and people… LEBRON, who’s as good as a role model as they come, and I follow them, If that makes me a band wagon jumper, than so be it, but at least I’m not following a team in ignorance…

Spurs vs Lebron
Spurs in 6
(Lebron’s going to tire out by then.) Really, Miami should get him some other players so they would have a TEAM. They could call them the Heat. Great concept…..maybe next year.

Underdog ?? 4 consecutive trips to the finals 2 championships that’s what you guys call underdogs beat a young and talented team as Indiana
Only handful of team in nba history has a 4 consecutive trips to final and 2+ straight championships and I don’t think the spurs are on the list but the “underdogs” are
Spurs are a great team but miami is a very talented team is no just lebron but is wade,bosh,chalmer,cole,the great all time list 3 pointer Ray Allen ,battier,udonis ,Lewis,and so on and a great coaching staff
Heat are and will be a great organization

Do you know the definition of the word “underdog”? Spurs have the better record, home court advantage, and advanced metrics pointing to a Spurs victory. The Heat are underdogs. It doesn’t matter what their track record is for past seasons.

Just wanna say miami fans don’t deserve LBJ. I remember seeing empty seats in the arena in playoff games before James got there. What kind of fans don’t support their team in playoff basketball? Found out it was miami fans, n that’s why I hated the idea of LBJ going to miami. On the other hand, this is anybody’s finals. But leaning towards spurs

They picked mostly the SPURS cause aside from they are getting Physically ready, they are Mentally ready and focus for what happened to them last year. Spurs now has learned from their mistakes just like what the Thunder did when they are down 2-0 & swept the next four games in 2012. Spurs has proven this year by finishing them in 6 games. Another payback motivation will Drive the San Antonio Spurs to number 5 this year!!! SPURS in any series.. :)

How does getting beat last year make them more ready to win this year. I keep hearing people say that and it just sounds stupid. When I beat someone once, I have even more confidence that I can do it again, and when someone beats me once, I am less confident going in again. Heat have two championships in a row, and one coming over the Spurs, so they know they can do it, and they are going to play like it and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Heat in 5, but it’ll probably go 6.

We all know the Spurs won last year. If the refs can keep an eye on Wade who is as dirty a player as there is, and stop giving him star calls all the time that he doesn’t deserve because he isn’t a star anymore, somewhat contain Lebron and this will be a victory for San Antonio.

You Are Delusional ! I guess when the spurs loses this season you will find another excuse like all the losers do.
Trust me it is not easy to beat the Heat in a series of 7 games.
You will understand it after theses playoffs

…..losers are those that get swept in the playoffs proving that they Never should have been there in the first place………..or even better yet– teams that never make the playoffs at all……like the Clips used to be……now that is being a loser…..

YEA EVERYONE SAID SPURS WAS GOING TO WIN LAST YEAR AND LOOK WHAT HAPPEN. I DON’T CARE THEY HAVE TIM DUNCAN BUT WE HAVE LEBRON AND WADE HEALTHY.SO HATERS COULD KEEP ON HATING AND PRAYING.
HEAT IN 6 GO HEAT GO!!!!!!

WHO is this ‘everybody’ of yours…….. Last year it was ALL about bronbron getting his back to back last year and you know it…….where did you read that “everybody” picked the Spurs last year…….THAT is hogwash………………OR just a really, really poor(selective) memory ……. did you think that the writers are taking into consideration that is REAL HARD to win a title….or a back-to-back title…..OR let alone a 3-peat…….. just a thought…

I think this series is going seven games. It all depends on Tony Parker’s health because Miami has a big problem defending his penetration, also, Tim Duncan is a big problem for them also in the post. But ultimately i think Miami will take it in 6 because they have the player in the world, the dramatic increase of Dwayne Wade’s play, and lets not forget the best 3pt shooter of all time in Ray Allen. All of this in addition of the health of Tony Parker, the Miami Heat will join some elite company in winning a three-peat in 7 games

It’s BUY vs BUILD team … hope there is a basketball god and some kind of justice in this world. Spurs are one of the best organization in all sport, they should be respected, admired, they should be a role model for childer.. hope they win it all…

You are delusional! The spurs did not draft Danny Green, Marco Bellineli, Patty Mills, Boris Diaw, Austin Daye, Damion James, Jeff Pendagraff, Matt Borner. So what are you talking about? Where is the building thing?

Give the “28 seconds away” garbage a rest. Seriously. You don’t play 47:32 in a basketball game. We don’t alter records and history through hyperbole and “if this, then that” speculation. The Heat won game 6. The Spurs had a chance in something called game 7 and they lost. The Heat are the two time defending champs, the Heat are in the Finals for a fourth consecutive year, the Heat have the best player on the planet, possibly of all time, and there is no way ANYBODY should bet against the Heat winning three in a row!!

…there is “NO WAY” anyone should bet against the Heat???? what?? So what happened in the past will dictate what happens in the next week or so……….interesting………… Well if the heaters were THAT much of a lock , how come they were the like the 6th best team this year (record wise) and 2nd in their Conference….You think they didn’t care about winninghome court ?? …….. LAST YEAR is PROOF that the heaters NEED home court(made ALL the difference in the world……… So this year it is different….2-2-1-1-1 AND they will have to defend home court and win one at least on the road…..that is NOT happening. Spurs win both at home and then one in Miami………and finish off the TWO-TIME defending champs in SA for the fans………….. of course this is just coming from someone who has watched them (the Spurs) reach the playoffs since 77-78 and missing only four or five times…… (not bad for a ABA team that Auerbach didn’t want in the League)…..so I am just a fan like you that ‘feels’ that this team is Destined for a title(another title)….

Glad you mention the change in game format.
I believe the 2-3-2 format killed the Spurs last year coz it is very diffcult to win 3 in a row. So you don’t have home court advantage and less chances to win the games played on your court.
After winning game 1 in Miami, SA would have had better chances to win the Series in a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Winning the first 2 games at home will be key for SA who are the best team on the road and showed it again against OKC.

I guess you’re watching a different league my friend. Do you really believe if the Heat wanted the best record they couldn’t get it. How many teams can decide to sit a starter who average 20 ppg for 28 games during the regular season?

Hey ‘my friend’ , isbode Spurs rested Starters all season long and had the best record with a 19 game streak as well …so to answer your question as to how many teams could rest starters and still get the best record…..just ONE ! in the ‘league I’m watching’ ……..

I honestly can’t believe some writers are picking the Spurs to win it all because they were 28 seconds away from winning it last year in GAME 6. The Spurs had all the time in the world to win in game 7 but they didn’t because the Heat were the better team. Heat in 6

Kevin is funny and clearly a Heat fan with his heart. The rationale with what happened in OKC does not hold water. I saw the games, only game 4 was a wash. Game three ended up with a 20 point margin but the Spurs were in it the entire way. Needless to say OKC was at 250% and couldn’t pull away as they would have liked early in that game as well as they were playing.

I agree with the 9/11 writers in terms of judging basketball with your head and not blind emotions. Spurs in 6 last season was the correct call…so many things had to happen for Miami to escape…I repeat “escape” with that victory. I mean do you guys not remember that in Miami with 26 seconds left, against the Spurs…the crew in Miami started to bring out the rope. Even the home crew knew.

I’m a realist and history will forever record Miami as 2012-2013 champions. I congratulate them too. However I know full well that Lebron would not want to have to win titles in that fashion, cause he knows he will lose far more than he wins.

@mikmaks….dude seriously “underdog”. On what continent will Miami ever be considered an underdog. It is sad though that only one team, other than maybe Memphis can beat Miami over 7 games. It’s sad. Even the Lakers and Bulls had more competition.

I can’t deny that I don’t like LBJ and how he’s changed basketball to be a “just join your great player buddies in order win” mentality and how that contrasts with the Spurs methods of winning rings. But I also can’t deny that the Heat will win this series as the better team.

and they are better …WHY??? because you think so……..they don’t lead statistically ……. didn’t win 60 games……played in the weakest Conference……. don’t have the MVP, DPOY ….6th man of the year…….coach of the year….. couldn’t even get a better record than the team they are playing………….SO, they are BETTER because….they won last year and the year before that???? C’mon Man !!! They are BETTER ……WHY ?????/

This is exactly why most heat fans are thought of as bandwagoners. Even when all the statistics and facts are laid out in front of them, they still go on rambling nonsense.

The Heat are NOT a better team than they were last year. Their bench has regressed so much(no Miller, older Battier) that they resorted to giving Lewis more minutes. It’s been like this for the WHOLE YEAR, and you still think the bench would just spontaneously show up? c’mon.They gambled on Oden and Beasley and lost, simple as that. On the other hand, the Spurs bench has been consistent all year, that’s something you can count on.

Why is it that most of the comments and evaluations concerning the 2014 Finals pit the Spurs against LeBron? Is it really possible that one player can outperform an entire team? The season’s stats for each team always INCLUDE LeBron, and yet Miami comes up short in every category. So, what’s the deal?

Stop overrating the Heat.
Spurs are a complete team and are versatile. They can beat you long range, in the post, in transition, mid-range, bench, coaching….
Heat only have one thing going for them – LBJ.

LBJ cannot beat a complete team like the Spurs.
I agree with the BOLD prediction – Spurs in 5!

NOBODY can beat a good TEAM not only Lebron.There is no such thing as I vs TEAM.Lebron cant beat the whole SPURS for sure.But he with his team beat the SPURS in the Finals last year.Dont let the last 28secs be an excuse.Luck happens everywhere..anytime..OK the Heat got so very very very lucky on that Game 6 but the Spurs have ALL the time in the world to win it all in Game 7 but why NOT?I am not hating the SPURS they are a well respected organization but I am hating a some silly comments that should NOT be existing at ALL.MAY THE BEST TEAM WINS but I am going with MIAMI HEAT!!

Im reading a lot of comments where writers compare OKC to Miami Heat….. Durant does not post up and does not have the experience of LBJ. As fans we like to forget when our teams struggle (Spurs against Dallas 7 games….REALLY?) and focus on when they blow a team out. If spolstra is smart he will experiment with the small ball against Spurs. If Greg Pop is smart (AND HE IS WITH OUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT THE GREATEST COACH TO EVER COACH IN NBA) He will give Boris Diaw the highest playing time of his life. Miami in 6